The Paint Not Prison Youth Organizing Project is a holistic community organizing, and beautification program which engages youth, mentors and artists including some youth on probation for graffiti offenses in ongoing leadership development, muralism, performance arts, music, and decision making. Participants are engaged in community organizing with the culmination of the project being both juvenile justice and youth programming policy change affecting “at-risk” youth, mural productions, and public art pieces in which community input drives the imagery and message of the public art.
Open office hours and art classes for this program are held Tuesday to Thursday from 2 PM to 5 PM. To Enroll e-mail: arts4action@gmail.com
Goals and Strategies Include
Visual Arts and Murals as a form of Consciousness Raising and Restorative Justice
• Deter graffiti through artistic expression and community organizing including youth working off community service hours (restorative justice)
• Training in art history and theory emphasizing community involved mural creation (community organizing, leadership development)
• Beautification of blighted areas (neighborhood revitalization)
• Engaging public schools, community members, community development corporations, local nonprofits, and county agencies, along with coordinating mural projects with existing strategies for community development to leverage grassroots social capital to build positive momentum and stronger results.(community building/ organizing)
• Constructive outlet for residents to dialogue about tensions or aesthetics related to subjects that go beyond the artistic process. We work with community organizations to create programming like workshops, symposia and other special events pertinent to community concerns related to the mural theme, and campaigns.
• build lasting relationships, bringing together diverse people to promote the community including celebrates their collective creative force.
Accomplishments
25 Youth Graduates, and over 1,500 hours of community service provided in the Paint not Prison Mural and Community Beautification Program. Active participation within the Graffiti Task Force, and Oxnard Family Peace Project force during these mural projects including attending over 30 public meetings
- Finishing 7 Public Murals Projects at such location including Cabrillo Econmic Development Housing, El Rodeo Community Center, and Fresh Mex Restaurant.
- Partnering with the Ventura County Probation Department, the Oxnard Graffiti Task Forces, and local school districts to complete over 1500 hours of community service for local youth in community based projects.
“Creating a Canvas of Social Change” Mural hung inside the Ventura County Juvenile Probation Services done by Paint not Prison Mentors Jose Zuniga, Andrea Vargas, Victor Aguilar, Tomas Hernandez, and Rolando Camarena and VCCF Social Justice Fund Donors.
